Putting your best face forward isn’t always easy when you have skin issues - problems like wrinkles, dark under-eye circles, acne, and discoloration can make us feel like our outside appearance isn’t a fair representation of who we are on the inside.
While there are some people who seem to have been blessed with effortless, naturally glowing skin, the rest of us often struggle with our skin’s appearance. We live in an endless search for the perfect balance of skin care products, struggle to get adequate sleep and exercise, and commonly have nutritional gaps in our diets that result in lackluster skin. It takes a lot of work to keep our largest organ happy and healthy!
If you’re sick of feeling self-conscious, spending hours each week covering up skin discoloration and blemishes with makeup, or of using your hard-earned money on yet another product delivering lackluster results - we’ve got good news.
You can improve and heal your skin from the inside using natural remedies.
Your skin can tell you a lot about your overall health. With a look, dermatologists are able to analyze a person’s skin and tell whether they’ve had too much sun exposure, drink enough water, or get adequate sleep. In fact, our skin can act as a warning signal for our inner health.
What Your Skin Can Tell You About Your Health
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the skin is seen as a reflection of ‘Shen’, which represents overall health and inner wellbeing.
Although we may not readily think of our skin as a ‘canary in the coal mine’ when it comes to our overall health, our skin often signals us when something internal isn’t quite right.
Rashes, for example, often appear as an inflammatory response to an allergen, virus, or disease. Similarly, early onset wrinkles, dark under-eye circles, and blemishes can all flag health concerns that stem from imbalances within our bodies.
Some of the ways that our skin can signal health concerns include:
- Itchiness and dryness, which can signal diseases like diabetes or thyroid disorders
- Discoloration, which often occurs in people with chronic illnesses, and can signal poor blood circulation
- Acne, which is often a marker of hormonal imbalances
Even dull skin, under-eye circles, and blemishes can be signs of more minor imbalances that can be corrected with the support of proper nutrition and health practices.
How to Get Naturally Glowing Skin
Skin is often described as glowing when it looks healthy, awake, evenly textured, and has a natural sheen. It is neither dry nor oily, and is generally free of redness or blotchiness.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the way we look and feel is considered a reflection of overall health, and a holistic approach is used to balance the flow of Qi throughout the entire body. The same applies to our skin health, as many lifestyle habits can either worsen or improve the look of our skin.
If our skin is a reflection of what’s going on inside of our bodies, doesn’t it make sense that naturally glowing skin begins with our inner health?
Below are some of the top natural ways to achieve glowing skin:
- Exercise: studies have shown that aerobic exercise can, over time, improve skin structure and blood flow, which helps to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin and improve overall appearance.
- Drink plenty of water: a common recommendation amongst health experts is to drink eight, 8oz glasses of water per day for optimal health. Proper water intake can help skin to maintain elasticity, stay hydrated, and reduce wrinkles and fine lines in the skin.
- Reduce alcohol intake: alcohol is a diuretic, causing our bodies and skin to lose hydration when consumed excessively. Alcohol can also result in nutrient loss, and cause skin to look dull or sunken. Alcohol consumption can also result in decreased elasticity of the skin. Reducing overall alcohol intake can help improve the appearance of skin and promote an overall glow.
- Get plenty of rest: It’s called beauty sleep for a reason! Even just one or two nights of disrupted sleep can cause skin discoloration, dull complexion, fine wrinkles, and dark circles. REM sleep additionally decreases cortisol levels in the body and promotes collagen production, which helps smooth our skin.
- Eat a healthy diet: Diets rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are brilliant for skin health.It’s important to avoid foods rich in processed sugar, salt, and saturated fat, which can trigger inflammation and upset our skin. Instead, reach for fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins, and whole grain foods.
Focusing on these pillars of skin health will help to heal skin and achieve that glow from the inside out. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are ways to take these principles even further to achieve naturally glowing skin.
Skin Health in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In TCM, the skin is believed to be a reflection of overall health. While the skin is its own organ, Traditional Chinese Medicine views the body as a complicated network of connected parts. These parts either function optimally when in balance, or dysfunctionally when there are blockages in flow or energy.
Because of this, external skin problems are believed to be caused by internal imbalances that should be corrected from the inside-out. This varies from the Western approach to skin health, which often uses harsh, topical treatments to attack the surface problem instead of its source.
To heal skin problems in TCM, natural herbs are often recommended to address the root causes of the skin imbalance, such as hormonal imbalances or gut problems. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine may also recommend external treatments like acupuncture and acupressure to help relieve skin symptoms and promote better energy flow throughout the body.
The balance of Yin and Yang energy throughout the body also has relevance to the health of our skin. For example, acne is believed to be a product of Yin (cold energy) deficiency, while a dull complexion may be caused by Yang (warm energy) deficiency.
Fortunately, nature provides us with plenty of resources to correct inner imbalances and treat the root causes of our skincare woes, leaving us with healthy, naturally glowing skin.
The Best Herbs for Naturally Glowing Skin
For naturally glowing skin, there are many herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine that can achieve outstanding results. Herbal remedies that are rich in nutrients, active compounds, and antioxidants are ideal for protecting and promoting skin health. Here are a few of the top herbs to promote naturally glowing skin:
Turmeric
Turmeric is an adaptogenic herb known to help promote focus and memory, reduce inflammation, and promote skin health. Turmeric has profound anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, which are excellent for skin health. Turmeric can be used both topically in face masks and as a natural supplement for our skin.
Tremella Mushrooms
Tremella Mushrooms are beautiful, translucent-looking mushrooms that are used to promote a youthful glow. These excellent adaptogenic mushrooms have been used in TCM for many years, and promote healthy skin by boosting hydration with hyaluronic acids, helping to increase production of collagen, and providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support in the body.
Astragalus
Astragalus root is a powerful herb that provides excellent immune support and antioxidant activity. The Astragalus root is also thought to have benefits on the respiratory system, helping to strengthen the Qi energy of the lungs and improving circulation (which has great skin benefits). Astragalus can help to reduce redness and irritation in the skin, and help to promote skin healing.
Polygonum
Polygonum is highly regarded in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its ability to promote longevity and nourish the kidneys. This herb is considered a blood tonic, nourishing the blood and eliminating ‘wind’, which helps to resolve itchiness and prevent skin blemishes. Polygonum is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants, and has been shown to help improve hyperpigmentation of the skin. Additionally, polygonum can inhibit advanced glycation end-products, which are proteins and fats that form as a reaction to sugar exposure. Also known as AGEs, they are able to damage collagen and contribute to the formation of wrinkles.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and beneficial compounds, and can even be used topically to help treat blackheads and acne due to its antiseptic properties. Like polygonum, cinnamon can also help to slow the production of AGEs and prevent early aging.
Your Skin On Natural Herbs
Dull, uneven skin has met its match. Instead of continuously battling your skin with topical ointments and harsh skin products, it’s time to heal your skin from the inside out and get that “natural glow” the natural way.
With our Surface Appeal formula, you can say goodbye to your skincare woes and hello to an herbal supplement that supports your skin health, immunity, longevity, and circulation.
At The Hao Life, we know that the natural supplements that help you feel good can also help you look good - and nothing looks better than a healthy, happy person. Check out our natural herbal remedies today for more superblends to power your good life.
